As a certifiable emo kid in my teens there were a few albums that had an outsized impact on many of my favorite bands. I didn’t know it at the time, but some of my favorite artists like Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, and Jimmy Eat World owed a ton to Nothing Feels Good by The Promise Ring. Blending the introspective lyricism of 90s alternative rock with the infectious energy of power pop, frontman Davey von Bohlen’s lyrics captured the ache of youth and the thrill of vulnerability by turning everyday struggles into anthems of longing and self-discovery. And, wouldn’t you know it, Davey was even featured on “A Praise Chorus” off Bleed American (a tidbit I didn’t put together until listening to this specific album for the first time last week).
With jangly guitars and catchy choruses, all the elements of emo power pop are here in full boom. And these melodic sensibilities effectively served as a foundation for some of my favorite band’s breakthroughs to the mainstream a mere five years later– put another way, without Nothing Feels Good a lot of those bands don’t have the inspiration to put out some of my favorite records.
Standout Songs: “Red & Blue Jeans”, “Why Did We Ever Meet”, “Nothing Feels Good”, “Broken Tenor”
